Disability and Social Policy in Britain since 1750

This approachable study explores experiences of physical and mental impairment in Britain since the Industrial Revolution. Using literary, visual, and oral sources to complement documentary evidence, Anne Borsay pays particular attention to the testimonies of disabled people. Disability and Social Policy in Britain since 1750: - places disability policies within their historical context - examines citizenship and social exclusion from a historical perspective - sketches the key characteristics of modern industrial societies - focuses on the shifting mixed economy of welfare, the development of social rights and the construction of identity - assesses institutional living in workhouses, hospitals, asylums, and schools - appraises community living with reference to employment, financial relief and community care - reviews social policies post-1979 Borsay argues that disabled people were excluded from the full rights of citizenship because they were marginal to the labour market and suggests that history may play a role in raising personal and political consciousness. Containing illustrations, and clearly structured, this book is an ideal guide for all those with an interest in the history of disability and social policies.